Railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.1 5. I918.

Patented Mar. 4,, 1919.

gwuewtoz FRANK BUTCHER, F VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR T0 CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, JERSEY.

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed October 15, 1918. Serial No. 258,173.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal- Torpedoes, of which the following is a speci fication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and is of a circular or button-top type, and composed of paper or fibrous material, whereby it is of the non-flying type.

The primary object of my invention is to provide means for preventing the spreading outward of the flange of the cup-shaped member, under the influence of moisture or otherwise to provide a water-proof structure.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a railway signal torpedo of the novel arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of a torpedo embodying my invention, showing it attached to a railroad rail.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse central sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the parts comprising my improved torpedo, shown in separated relation.

In the drawing, 1 is a'shallow cup-shaped case in which is placed a tablet form of an explosive 2. This explosive has a buttonor dome-shape, whereby its periphery 3 is tapered.

A dome-shaped cover 4' fits in the member 1, and over the explosive 52, forming a top or cover for the explosive containing case.

By reason of the tapered form of explosive 2 and the dome-shaped cover 4, the flange 5 of the cup-shaped member 1, projects beyond the periphery of the cover 4, which forms an annular cavity 6 between the projecting edge of the flange and the top of the cover 4. This cavity is triangular in crosssection and is filled with water-proof cement 7, which serves to make the joint water-tight and to hold the cover in place.

One trouble with paper cup-shaped cases for torpedoes is to prevent the flange of the case from spreading or opening outward. These paper cup-shaped members are stamped or formed from a flat circular disk of paper, and as a consequence the flange 5 has a tendency to open outward, and especially under the influence of water, or moist atmospheric conditions.

One object of my invention is to prevent the opening out or the spreading outward of the flange of the cup-shaped member, and this I do by providing a fiber or paper ring 8. This ring 8 is cut from a paper or fiber tube and, as shown, this ring surrounds tightly the outer periphery of the flange of the cup-shaped case or member, thus holding it against spreading outward.

I have here shown another or outer cupshaped member 9, larger than the cup-shaped member 1, and in which the latter is placed, as shown in Fig. 2. While this member 9 serves to strengthen the completed structure and to form a holder for a rail-engaging strap 10, I desire it to 'be understood that the cup-shaped member 9 may be omitted and the strap attached to the torpedo in any other well-known way without departing from the spirit and scope of my present invention. When the cup-shaped member 9 is omitted, the ring 8 will then directly engage the outer periphery of the cup-shaped member 1. Preferably, though not essential, the ring 8 is held in position by a suitable cement, and the members 2 and 4 are preferably composed of water-proof paper.

The paper out of which the members 1 and 4 are made is relatively thin to prevent flying particles injuring persons standing by when the torpedo explodes, and there is not sufiicient body in the paper for its flange 5 to reliably maintain it in its pressed position under the influence of moisture and handling by railroad employees. Torpedoes are sometimes carried by an employee for quite a long time before they are used, as well as they frequently remain in storage for quite a long time. By the use of the holding ring 8, the flange 5 of the torpedo, in the construction here shown, will maintain its original and correct position under handling and moisture, and thus insure a water-tight joint between the periphery of the cover 4: and the inner periphery of the flange 5, and at the same time be of the non-flying type. Preferably the ring 8 is made from thicker paper than the members 1, 4 and 9, as here shown, though this is not essential to the embodiment of my present improvement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A railway signal torpedo of the type described, comprising a fibrous cup-shaped member, a dome-shaped top for the cupshaped member with its periphery inside of the edge of the flange of the cup-shaped member, an explosive between the said members, a holding ring surrounding the flange of the cup-shaped member and cemented around the periphery of the dome-shaped cover at the juncture thereof with the flange of the cup-shaped member.

2. A railway torpedo of the type described, comprising a fibrous cup-shaped member, a dome-shaped cover therein, the flange of the cup-shaped member projecting beyond the periphery of the domeshaped member whereby a cement receiving annular cavity triangular in cross-section is formed at the periphery of the do1ne-shaped cover and the flange of the cupshaped member, a cement within the said cavity for making a water-tight joint between the cover and the flange of the cup-shaped member.

3. A railway signal torpedo of the class described, comprising a cup-shaped fibrous member, a fibrous dome-shaped cover within the cup-shaped member, an explosive between the said members, the flange of the cup-shaped member projecting beyond the periphery of the cover thus forming an annular cement receiving cavity tris angular in cross-section between the periphery of the cover and the flange of the cup-shaped member, cement within the cavity, and a holding ring surrounding the flange of the cup-shaped member, for the purpose described.

at. A railway signal torpedo of the type described, comprising an explosive receiving cup-shaped member, a dome-shaped cover therefor and within the cup-shaped member with the flange of the cup-shaped Vmember projecting beyond the periphery FRANK DUTCHER.

Witnesses INEZ T. WALDEN, L. L. BURKET.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

